Fieldfare

Both sexes: Grey head and rump, chestnut-brown back, and yellow-brown speckled breast.

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The Fieldfare is a large thrush - just a little smaller than the Mistle Thrush - with very bold plumage. They
are winter visitors from Scandinavia.

Adult male and female Fieldfares are similar in appearance, except that
the female is generally duller and browner.

The male has blue-grey crown, nape, and rump; chestnut brown back; black
tail; and a buff breast with black streaks that also extends to the
flanks. The underwing, especially the "armpit", is white, and it is this
and the pale grey rump that are most noticeable when in flight.

The juveniles lack the grey head and are duller.

Fieldfare

Scientific Name

Turdus pilaris

Length

25 cm (10")

Wing Span

39-42 cm (16-17")

Weight

80-120 g (2¾-4¼oz)

Breeding Pairs

< 10

Present

Winter

Status

Red

Voice

The song of the Fieldfare is a medley of whistles and "chacks".

We are more likely to hear the "chack" calls as they fly over during the
winter.

Feeding

In the winter they will feed on windfall fruit for long periods and are often
accompanied by Redwings.

Nesting

The nest is cup-shaped and made from grass, moss and twigs, and lined
with mud. There are very few Fieldfares breeding in Britain.

The eggs of the Fieldfare are about 29 mm by 21 mm in size, and are smooth,
glossy, and pale blue with reddish speckles. The duties of incubating the
eggs are performed by the female. The newly-hatched young are fed by both
adults.

Breeding Starts

Clutches

Eggs

Incubation (days)

Fledge (days)

April-June

1-2

3-8

11-14

12-16

Movements

The Scandinavian Fieldfares usually arrive in Britain in October and early
November and stay here until the Spring (March-May), during which time there
can be up to 750 000 birds.

Conservation

The Fieldfare is specially protected as it is such a rare breeding bird in
Britain. In the 1990s it looked as if the westward expansion of breeding
Fieldfares may reach Britain, but this no longer seems likely.